Matt Busby; Soccer Coach, 84

Published: January 21, 1994

MANCHESTER, England, Jan. 20—
Sir Matt Busby, who overcame the tragedy of an airplane crash to guide Manchester United to one of British soccer's greatest triumphs, died today at Alexandra Hospital. He was 84.

He had been suffering from blood cancer, a hospital statement said.

Sir Matt, who was born in Scotland, served as coach of United from 1945 to 1969, leading the club to Football Association Cup titles in 1948 and 1963, Football League championships in 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965 and 1967.

On Feb. 6, 1958, he was seriously injured and eight of his players were killed in an air crash at Munich. But he rebuilt the team and, in 1968, United became the first English club to win the European Cup by beating Benfica of Lisbon, 4-1, at Wembley Stadium in London. Later that year, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.